520 THE YELLOW-LEGS. 
not only the borders of lakes and marshes, but duck-ponds, brick-yards, upland 
pools and river bars as well. Sometimes they move uneasily from one pond 
to another, as tho discontented with the fare offered; and at all times they 
utter a querulous note which is perfectly characteristic, few tew tew, tew 
tew tew,—always in groups of three. The notes are vigorous and penetrating 
as well as petulant, and therefore always pleasing as adding a distinct element 
to the chorus of the season. 
While feeding, the Tattler wades about knee-deep, snatching its food from 
the surface of the water, or else thrusting its head below for a quick search 
along the bottom. At such times it may be very alert or quite unwary, accord- 
ing to the amount of persecution which it has previously endured. By gentle 
advances I have walked entirely around a pool where these birds were feeding, 
and they waded in toward the center breast deep rather than take wing. At 
other times I have been unable to get within a hundrd yards of them. 
The Yellow-legs seldom remains above a day at any one station, but ad- 
vances across the state by slow stages. The fall movement is a little more 
leisurely than that of spring, inasmuch as the bird’s business is less urgent; 
and they are rather more numerous at that season. In their winter home, in 
far off Argentina, the birds are said to mingle for a time with the members 
of their race which constitute a southern division, and which must soon be 
leaving for their breeding haunts within the Antarctic circle. 
No. 242. 
YELLOW-LEGS. 
A. O. U. No. 255. Totanus flavipes (Gmel.). 
Synonyms.—TAarrLeR; LessER TATTLER. 
Description.— Adult in swmmer: Head and neck all around (save throat), 
and breast, finely streaked with dusky, on white or ashy-white ground, the mark- 
ings on the sides of breast broader and heavier, passing into loose and rather indis- 
tinct bars on sides; remaining under parts white; back and upper parts in general 
light brownish gray, tinging also hind-neck and crown; feathers of back and - scapu- 
lars with blackish centers, and irregular spotting of ashy white; the larger feathers, 
especially tertials, with incomplete black bars; primaries dusky; the secondaries 
with narrow edging of white; upper tail-coverts white, the terminal portion of 
feathers dusky-barred; tail white or ashy gray, centrally, barred with dusky; bill 
and feet as in preceding species. Winter plumage: Above light brownish gray, 
with some darker shaft-lines, and considerable white spotting on edges of feathers ; 
markings of neck and under parts much paler, grayish brown, partially obscured 
or blended. Length about 10.50 (266.7) ; av. of five Columbus specimens: wing 
6.11 (155.2) ; tail 2.36 (59.9) ; bill we (37.1) ; tarsus 1.98 (50.3). 
